Cold, wet weather around this time of year traditionally causes an increase in odour reports to Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) from residents living close to landfills, as rain reduces the effectiveness of gas extraction systems.
Still conditions during the day, followed by cold, still nights, can also cause the gas to become trapped and accumulate close to the ground instead of dissipating into the atmosphere.
EPA regularly inspects landfills and meets with landfill operators to address odour issues and urges the community to continue reporting offensive odour.
Odour pollution is best reported immediately via EPAs 24-hour pollution hotline 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).
Investigations into odour reports rely on members of the public reporting odour pollution in a timely manner. Delaying your call, lodging it online or emailing will not give EPA officers the best chance of verifying your report and doing what they need to act on the report. Officers need to respond to odour reports as they are reported.
The odour needs to be strong and persist for more than a few minutes and reporters should try to accurately describe the characteristics of the odour as well as weather conditions, particularly wind strength and direction. This information will give our offices the best chance of tracking an odour to its source.
If you would like better understand what happens when a pollution report has been made to EPA, view the publication How EPA responds to reports of pollution.